Nora's POV Reluctantly, I made my way to the training ground with my head bent to the ground. Despite all the rigorous training I had subjected myself to, my wolf was yet to make her appearance leaving me frustrated and feeling like a failure. “Hey, you don't look good.” Vina’s voice made me shoot my head upwards only to see her standing in front of me. Flashing her a quick smile, I tried to bypass her but she held my arm, pulling me backwards. “Not too fast my little friend.” She pouted. Cranking her head to the side, she tightened her grip on my shoulder, “Don't tell me you're downcast because of…” “You honestly don't have an idea of what I’m going through.” I snapped, trying to pull away from her but she tightened her grip instead. “I understand what you're going through right now but acting this way isn't going to help, you know that right?” “What should I do? The days are running by, still yet nothing. I have done every single thing I can think of but…” I swallowed the re
Carlos’ POV With my legs drawn up to my chin, I had my hands strapped around it as I stared into space. The only thing on my mind at the moment was setting things right with Nora. I needed her forgiveness because, not only was I going to become a free man, I will be able to find out what exactly happened. The answers I had been searching for were in my Pack and I couldn't lay my hands on them if I remained in the confines of the cell. Biting my lower lips, I shut my eyes tightly and at once Aria’s face appeared in my head, making me snap my eyes open at once. “Aria.” I muttered, fiddling with my fingers. “I wonder what happened that night.” The night of the rejection was still fresh in my head like it happened a few minutes ago. I tried to pierce the events of the night together yet I still find it unbelievable.“Was it Aria who used my identity to plot Nora’s death?” I pondered. If truly Aria was the architect behind the plot, then she must have planned it for a long time. And
Carlos' POV Weak from being starved, I tried to sit up but my body refused to cooperate with me. It was as if the next minute I was going to pass out from hunger and dehydration. But still, I didn't hold any grudge against Nora, in fact, I was itching to see her. If only she would make her visit at this moment I would be pleased. My feelings towards her are... complicated. Even as she starved me in that dingy cell, I couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of admiration for her strength and conviction. Her determination to break me was supposed to get me angry, yet, I found myself drawn to her. “Argh!" I grunted as hunger gnawed at my belly.I couldn't help but wonder if Nora's resolve would ever waver. But her gaze always pierce through me like a cold, calculated knife. She naturally feels excited in my suffering and it seems to fuel her own sense of purpose.The purpose of her revenge for all I did to her. She wasn't vying for revenge because of the rejection but because she beli
Karen’s POV I couldn't hide my emotions anymore. I just couldn't stop my heart from beating for her anymore. At first, I thought I was just being caring toward her because of her weakness. Then I convinced myself that our interactions over the months made us closer.Not until she went back to her former pack. That's when I saw the bastard who rejected her. I couldn't be less angrier. I was prepared to punish the bastard along with her.I grew protective of her and attributed it to being her friend. Not until I observed how that bastard was trying to seek forgiveness while getting close to her again.That was when I let my emotions get the better of me. That bastard Alpha doesn't deserve Nora. She deserves someone who is ready to cherish her in all things, weak or not. I can't believe he still thinks she would accept him.He rejected her when he thought she was nothing!As I left Carlos' cell in annoyance, I decided to take a breather. I changed into my wolf and lung deep into the for
Nora's POV“ He is too weak for you, Nora!" Karen spat out. Why would Karen think that I wanted to go back to Carlos?“ You don't have to be cruel towards him, Karen. This wasn't the friend who had always been by my side. What happened to you?" I asked, gazing at him in confusion.Karen paused as he stared at me too. Then with a disappointed look, he spat out.“ And you are not the fierce Nora who wanted nothing but revenge on that damn man that caused you pains! What the hell is happening to you?" With that, Karen turned around and left the training ground with his fist tightly clenched.As soon as Karen left, some of the prison guards came forward and took Carlos to the infirmary for treatment. Even the other trainees each left the training ground and I was left alone in the training ground, staring into space as I tried to comprehend whatever it is that was going on. Karen's words kept ringing in my head and I wondered if he was right. Maybe I had changed but why? This was the sam
Nora's POVOn arrival at my mother's chamber, it seemed she had been expecting me because she immediately pulled me into a brief hug before leading me to a couch. “I will be right back.” She said and after a few minutes, she returned with a full pendant making my lips break into a smile. The broken pendant from earlier had now been merged. “Here, you can have it.” She said, pushing her hand forward. “Thank you mother.” I replied with a grin, receiving the pendant from her. I was about to place it around my neck when she held my hand and then went ahead to help me with it. Holding the pendant, my lips broke into a smile. “It's pretty, mother.” I said, grinning widely. “It suits you. As always. Sweetheart, never take it off you again.” She replied, caressing the side of my face, a smile tugging the side of her lips. “ Never again, mom. I learnt my lesson the hard way." I replied with a bitter smile. I shook off the sad feeling and decided to tell her the reason I came to see he
Nora POVMy eyes glistened with tears I couldn't hold back, when I saw and perceived the familiar scent of the people who I had known since I was little.My werewolf parents. With a big grin, I ran into their arms, squashing them in a tight embrace. “I have missed you so much, mother. I miss you so much father.” I mumbled, pulling away from them. Although it's just been weeks since I left them at the border, I was already missing them. My eyes searched around them, looking frantic. As if they read my mind, they shook their heads. “ Justin has to take care of the pack since Alpha Carlos is away.”Although I was glad to see my foster parents, I miss my brother. I was also surprised to see them in the kingdom. I thought they would only come during my coronation. “ How did you-"“ The king gave us a token that allows us access to the kingdom.”I nodded while grinning. “I'm glad you have adapted so well.” My foster mother said, smiling sweetly at me while my foster father looked on wi
Nora's POVGrabbing my head with both hands, I let out a low grunt as I bit my bottom lips. My parents kept persuading me to let go of Carlos but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. He was my captive and I wanted it to remain that way for as long as possible. He was the one that hurt me first and not until I healed properly, I wasn't going to let go. I made an excuse and left them so I could think properly. I wonder why they all want me to let him go after all he did. The more I thought about it, the enraged I became and so I was pacing about, trying to calm my racing mind and head which was spiraling with different thoughts but to no avail. “You're finding it difficult to forgive him, not because of what happened at the cliff.” Mrs. Vikings said, making me snap my head in her direction quickly. "I don't know, Mom...Dad," I said, my voice hesitant. "I just can't trust him right now. I need time to process everything."They exchanged a concerned glance. "Nora, sweetie, we unde
CARLOS' POVBlood dripped from my split lip, and my ribs ached where Griffin landed a solid punch. But physical pain was nothing compared to the rage burning inside me."What have you done to Nora's memories?" I demanded.Griffin's smile was wolfish. "I simply helped her remember what you really are."Something changed in the air suddenly. A shift in energy that raised the hair on the back of my neck. Griffin rolled his shoulders, and I recognized the telltale signs of what was coming."You!" I accused. His only response was a low chuckle as his body began to change.The change took him quickly—bones cracking and reforming, skin stretching over growing muscle, human cries morphing into bestial growls. Where Griffin had stood moments ago, a massive wolf now crouched, teeth bared in challenge.I had no choice. I let my own transformation take me, embracing the pain as my body shifted forms. Within seconds, I sto
CARLOS POVI stared at Nora across the room. Her eyes, once warm and trusting, now held nothing but suspicion and anger. She had been questioning me for hours now without stopping. "The pendant," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion in her eyes. "The pendant I gave you. You rejected it, right?"I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. "The pendant? The same pendant you gave me? Come on Nora. None of those matters right now.""That's not what I asked." Her fingers tightened around the glass of water she held. "In my vision, I saw you reject it. I saw the look on your face. The look of disgust abd disdain. Why?"I remembered how I rejected Nora and her pendant. But telling her that now would only lead to more questions, questions that would inevitably reveal the worst of my past actions. It would only make her hate me even more. "I never rejected the pendant," I lied, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "You're remem
CARLOS POVI felt it without warning—a sudden rush of power surging through the walls of our home, the unmistakable energy signature of the pendant. It was the same overwhelming sensation I'd experienced during the war when the pendant's power had first manifested. My heart raced as I bolted upright from my desk, papers scattering to the floor unnoticed."Nora," I whispered, already running.I sprinted down the corridor towards the room. When I flung the door open, the room was empty, windows closed. I cursed under my breath. There was only one place she could be."The secret room," I muttered, increasing my steps. I feared for what was happening. I hoped that it was not what I was thinking, even though I was trying to prevent myself from thinking about it. I avoidedthe thoughts because it would only make me panic even more. As I raced through the winding passages of the house Elder Silvarum's warning echoed in my mind... "Keep
NORAI heard a voice calling my name, pulling me out of the swirling vortex of memories. The sound seemed to come from very far away at first, then gradually grew closer."Nora! Nora, can you hear me? Wake up!"My eyes fluttered open, struggling to regain focus. The room seemed dark at first, but gradually my eyes began to adjust. Not the secret chamber where I had passed, but our bedroom—familiar walls. I was lying in our bed. Carlos sat beside me, his face filled with worry and concern. "Thank god. You're finally awake Nora." Finally, relieve displayed on his features and he sighed deeply. I stared at him, trying to reconcile the man before me with the one in my memories—the one who had rejected me, sent wolves to push me off a cliff, the one who had nearly ended my life because I wasn't the right kind of wolf he wanted. I wondered if that was another dream? Waking up in the bedroom meant that I was dreaming
THIRD POV (Memories 2)The flood of memories continued filling Nora's unconscious form, each revelation more shocking than the last.A new face emerged from the swirling memories. The same face she had seen countless times in her dreams. The man she had always called Karen in her dreams stood before her in the palace training grounds, wooden practice sword in hand."Again," Karen commanded, circling Nora on the packed dirt of the training arena. "Your enemies won't give you time to catch your breath, Princess."Nora's younger self lunged forward, sweat dripping down her face as she executed a complex series of moves with her own practice sword. Though her muscles trembled with exhaustion, determination blazed in her eyes."Better," Karen said with a slight nod. "But your left side is still vulnerable. You have to put in more effort if you want to get it right."Nora thought that she had put in all the effort she could access and
THIRD POV (Memories 1)As Nora lay unconscious on the bare floor of the hidden chamber, her mind was floating in a sea of recovered memories. The first memory came in vivid detail. A warm summer evening, stars scattered across the sky like diamonds. A younger Nora stood before Carlos in an opening, her heart pounding with anticipation and filled with love. In her outstretched hands lay the pendant, its opal gleaming in the moonlight.Nora was smiling sheepishly. Although, she was shy... she still managed to do what she wanted to do. "I want you to have this," she told him, her voice trembling slightly. "I brought it for you. It's to show how deeply I love you." Carlos's face— younger, but with the same features, looked down at the pendant with an expression Nora couldn't quite read. She slightly lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling shy. "The moon goddess sees all true connections," Nora continued, hope evident in her voice. "Wi
NORA'S POV The world seemed sharper somehow, colours more vivid, scents more distinct. And there was something else— a pull, like an invisible thread tugging at my consciousness. I shut my eyes, thinking I could ignore it at that point. While my eyes was closed,I saw myself in another world. I was surrounded with books. I opened my eyes quickly, hoping to have been teleported, but found myself still standing at the same spot. Nothing had returned to normal yet. Leaves rustled loudly, and the sound of distant voices came with the air that kept sweeping across me. Voices that I could not male anything out of. I could hear, but I could not even understand. Something suddenly began to pull me forward against my wish. My legs moved even when I didn't put in any effort to lift my legs or carry myself. I stood shakily, my hand instinctively clutching my head. The pull strengthened, drawing me toward the library."What is this?" I whispered, but
NORA'S POV "I can't just leave," I told Griffin, my voice steadier than I felt. "Carlos is my not just my mate. We are married with kids, Griffin. With kids." Griffin moved closer to me. He did it like a reflex, and each time he got close enough, he pause before getting too close for comfort. "Nora, think about it. If Carlos truly cared for you as a mate should, why keep so much from you? Why let you stumble blindly through life, never knowing who or what you truly are?"I knew that Carlos would not just lie to me. He must have his reasons for doing so. I could not just leave him because of that. I hoped to be able to convince Griffin, even though his offer was tempting. "Maybe he was afraid," I countered, though doubt was beginning to creep in. "Afraid of losing me if I knew the truth. Afraid of something else. Perhaps, just trying to protect me." Griffin shook his head. "It goes deeper than that. Carlos has been actively w
NORA'S POV I paced nervously around my living room, waiting for Griffin to arrive. My heart raced. No matter hoe hard I tried to focus on something else, my mind kept going back to the thoughts I was running away from. The doorbell rang, bringing me back to reality. I sighed as I headed towards the door and opened it. Griffin was standing out there, noth hands in his pocket. "May I come in?" he asked, his voice low.I stepped aside. "Sure." "We can talk in the kitchen."Griffin followed behind as I led him into the kitchen. He grabbed a stool and sat on it. "Where's Carlos?" He asked as he looked around the kitchen. "Out," I replied simply. "Do you think this place is quiet enough?" "You think someone could be listening?" I asked, suddenly chilled."I think we can't be too careful." Griffin leaned forward. "Have you found anything else since we last spoke?""Just more